Celebrating 70 Years of Innovation: The Gibson 1955 NAMM Show Les Paul
NAMM 2025: It’s astonishing to think that the NAMM show has been a cornerstone of the music industry for over 120 years.
In this rich history, 70 years ago, Gibson made waves at NAMM by unveiling a remarkable collection of Les Paul guitars.
During the 1955 NAMM event held in Chicago, Gibson showcased an exclusive set of five Les Pauls, each adorned with a custom metallic nitrocellulose lacquer finish in colors like Samoa Beige, Copper Iridescent, Nugget Gold, Platinum, and Viceroy brown.
These guitars were not just visually striking; they were also groundbreaking. They marked the debut of the Standard models equipped with no-wire ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridges and Stop Bar tailpieces, features previously exclusive to the 1954 Les Paul Custom.
As Gibson reflects on these unique instruments, they note, “the current locations of only a few are known today.”
To honor the 70th anniversary of these iconic models, Gibson has introduced the 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul, meticulously crafted to replicate its 1955 predecessor with incredible precision.
Beyond the unique finishes and bridge configurations, the original models featured a lightweight one-piece mahogany body paired with a hide glue-fitted two-piece plain maple cap, both of which are replicated in the 2025 version.
The guitar boasts a one-piece mahogany neck with a long neck tenon, a historically accurate 50s Chunky D-Shape neck profile, and an Indian rosewood fretboard equipped with 22 narrow/tall frets, a 12” radius, and aged cellulose nitrate trapezoid inlays.
Speaking of aging, the Gibson Murphy Lab team has applied a subtle aging process to this guitar, giving it the appearance of a well-loved instrument that has seen its fair share of performances, rather than one that appears excessively worn.
The headstock logo is also period-correct, complemented by single line, single ring kluson tuners.
In terms of sound, this model features a pair of Custom Shop P-90 soapbar pickups, hand-wired to 500k CTS potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors, with color-matched control knobs that enhance its vintage aesthetic.
While not as elusive as the original models, the 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul will still be a sought-after instrument, with only 70 units of each finish being produced, totaling 350 guitars. As expected, the price reflects the limited availability and meticulous craftsmanship.
Each guitar is accompanied by a brown/pink Lifton five-latch case and is priced at $6,499.
For further details on this exquisite guitar, which can only be ordered directly from the Gibson Garage, visit Gibson’s official website.
The ’55 NAMM Commemorative model isn’t the only P90-equipped Les Paul Gibson has introduced recently; it shares the spotlight with Warren Haynes’ new Cherry-finished signature model.
